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Mujtaba Rahman Profile picture
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3 Nov, 4 tweets, 2 min read
.@MehreenKhn is entitled to her opinion - but not her own facts. She attributes stuff to @EmmanuelMacron which he never said. He actually ruled out a complete ban on headscarves 1/

ft.com/content/016b5b…
Moreover, his anti separatism plan was approved beforehand by mainstream Muslim leaders and intellectuals in France. There's also not a word in her piece about the 38 djihadist attacks in France in 8 years 2/
I would agree that comments from some other ministers are VERY unhelpful. Ditto Macron's formulation in his hommage to Paty that France will not refrain from publishing cartoons. Made it sound like a state enterprise. His comments in Al Jazeera interview muuch better... 3/
”I understand why they shock but expression is free in France up to limits set by law.“ The last time I put up a thread on my view of Macron/ Islam, I was labelled an apologist - so I shan't engage in a back & forth on this. I think my view is clear ENDS

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More from @Mij_Europe

Mujtaba Rahman Profile picture
17 Oct
Great talking to @Marthakearney & @MishalHusain on @BBCr4today this AM. In case you missed it, short thread on what I said. Let's not get carried away. Some Brexit drama was inevitable at this stage of the negotiation - & around EU summit. We shouldn't be surprised its arrived 1/
.@BorisJohnson was obviously unhappy at EU Council's conclusions. EU completely ignored his request that if a deal is not possible now, a concession could at least be offered on process - namely, an “intensification” . He got no banana, so has had to up the ante 2/
Many in @10DowningStreet also believe a second crisis was necessary to force movement out of EU, not least as IM Bill somewhat backfired. So Govt throwing kitchen sink at EU to create maximum pressure. But Boris will get round table again if EU makes right noises - & they are 3/
Read 6 tweets
Mujtaba Rahman Profile picture
3 Oct
A thread on @EmmanuelMacron & Islam, given I'm a Muslim & cover France for @EurasiaGroup ☺️. It's ENRAGED a segment on Twitter. But I think it was a very good and balanced speech. Short thread 1/
So @EmmanuelMacron has angered some Muslim activists, annoyed the French far right & outraged the hard Left with his much awaited speech yesterday on defending the French secular state from “separatism” and radical Islam. Did he get it about right then? Yes, mostly he did 2/
Macron is often accused of “ontheotherhandism” –a sterile determination to see all sides of every argument. In his speech yest, he attempted a balance between a frontal assault on radical “political Islam” & a recognition many of France’s 5m Muslims have been let down by state 3/
Read 9 tweets
Mujtaba Rahman Profile picture
3 Oct
A consequential day (& next few weeks! for Brexit). A few thoughts. There is no chance of a “tunnel” next week. Gaps on substance too large. Instead, talks will move into a “restricted format”. This is a more intensive process, involving fewer officials from both sides 1/
Even in a best-case scenario, the 15-16 October Council will not deliver a deal, but could instruct @MichelBarnier to conclude one. A “tunnel” would then follow. In a worst case scenario, the EU27 will signal willingness to keep talking, but ramp up their no deal preparations 2/
Key question now is less about policy gaps & more abt political willingness. Both sides see parameters of deal. Question is, can they sell it if they do it? So for Bxl, purpose of today's call is to figure out if Johnson wants a deal - & is willing to concede ground to get one 3/
Read 4 tweets
Mujtaba Rahman Profile picture
27 Sep
Good read by @pmdfoster & @FT. It's more UK Govt, less Bxl, that's questioning with whom @BorisJohnson will have his Varadkar moment. But @EmmanuelMacron clearly the favourite. Macron DOES think BJ is a man he can do business with; a deal maker. But 1/

ft.com/content/16e84a…
Many in French system worry that the Fr Pres is misreading the PM & overestimating, even exaggerating, his need for a deal. As others say & I agree, France will also be one of the tougher MS as we approach final round. It's unwilling to concede significantly on LPF or fish 2/
Partly bc it thinks UK is negotiating from position of weakness. Partly bc Govt believes it has less at stake from a no deal than some other more vulnerable member states, eg Belgium, Ireland, Germany & Netherlands 3/
Read 4 tweets
Mujtaba Rahman Profile picture
27 Aug
Very good thread by @JenniferMerode. I'd add 3 points. 1) Everyone knows Brexit negs can't progress until UK state aid paper is released/shared with the EU. But EU is also sceptical that the new regime will be *operational* by 1 Jan. Seeing UK paper is not enough.. 1/4
The real question is: What does Govt intend to do once free of EU rules but prior to the implementation of its new regime? 2) As @JenniferMerode says, we should be careful about idea that we’ll see a repeat of last Nov-@BorisJohnson bounced into last minute deal 2/3
BJ is VERY wary of signing up to a deal that could come back to bite him later; thinks NI protocol did just that. This will make him more, not less, cautious about possible fudges on state aid. 3) The implementation period of any UK-EU deal is *key* 3/4
Read 4 tweets
Mujtaba Rahman Profile picture
28 Jun
Very interesting lecture by @michaelgove. Honest, self-critical of the political class (eg “sugar rush” of announcements). Sets out the principles that will underpin shake-up of civil service - Dominic Cummings’ mission post-Brexit eg data-driven evaluation of Govt projects 1/
Echoes of Blair’s third way eg “what works.” Treasury working on big programme to relocate Whitehall departments. Clearly going to the North! The politics is about how to hold on to former Labour voters who went Tory in Dec & the “left behind” who voted Leave in 2016 2/
Gove wants to remake Govt (& Tories) so these voters are not “forgotten” by a “distant” political elite. The unspoken goal is to make the Tories the champions of opportunity for all so these voters are not tempted to return to Labour 3/
Read 4 tweets

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